Religious Education Network Faces Mass Teacher Layoffs Over Budget Delays

The Religious Education Forum announced on Wednesday that it will soon begin dismissal procedures for hundreds of teachers due to ongoing delays in state budget transfers to religious state education networks. The forum claims that despite repeated appeals to the Ministry of Education, the funds have not yet been transferred, and the networks' ability to self-finance their operations is dwindling.

In recent months, the education networks have reportedly continued to pay teachers and fund educational programs using loans and independent sources to avoid harming institutions and students. However, they state that without the budget transfers, this practice is unsustainable, and layoffs are the next step. "We have warned repeatedly that the continued delay will ultimately harm teachers and students. Now the warnings are beginning to become reality," the forum stated.

This development follows a letter sent by the Religious Education Forum to Education Minister Yoav Kisch and senior ministry officials about a week and a half ago. In the letter, they warned that the continued budget delay could jeopardize the start of the academic year in religious high schools and seminaries. The forum emphasized that these are funds designated for teacher salaries, not for politically motivated purposes.

The forum is urging the Ministry of Education to immediately release the budgets and resolve the crisis before the financial damage translates into actual harm to teachers, educational institutions, and students. Meanwhile, the issue of funding for religious state education is also being addressed in the High Court of Justice, where the state is expected to present a structured plan in the coming months.